As often, when days are sweet, I enjoy my rooftop terrace.

Our Packhouse stands in the middle of a meadow. Like almost all the packs, the headquarters of our Pack are hidden in the heart of a large forest.

It looks like a lovely little manor, with large modern bay windows on the garden level. There are two more levels. Upstairs, the windows look more like old manors.

Several guesthouses surround the Packhouse. Only the Alpha's family and his Beta's live in the Packhouse. All the other important wolves reside in the guesthouses or in the cities on the Pack's territory.

Guesthouses are elegant and nicely decorated as they are used by noticeable visitors. Some of them are also used by the most influential Pack members, such as the former Alphas, Betas, or chief warriors.

Most of the houses in the city are nice and cozy, but still big enough for families with four or five children because most of the wolves tend to have a lot of pups. Gardens are not separated by fences.

The explanation is simple: we all know each other and regard each other as family. Our family has always defended togetherness, so we can be a powerful pack. If someone attacks one of us, then they have to deal with the whole Pack.

Contrary to most of our neighboring packs, arranged-mating has never been authorized in Blue Lakes. It forced us to form reliable and long-lasting alliances with other packs. Anyway, my ancestors succeeded, and we are still a respected Pack nowadays.

I've always enjoyed it as I grew up in this house. As one of the Alpha's children, I have the chance to live in such a wonderful place.

This house was initially built by the first Alpha of the Blue Lakes Pack: he was one of my great-grand-grand-grand-grand relatives.

Our family has always ruled on the Blue Lakes Pack. No wolf has ever tried to take over us. I suppose my family has always done their job great.

The whole building looks magnificent. If it has been modernized through generations, my family has consistently refused to change the main walls that are seen to be our Pack's soul.

My favorite area is its roof terrace: it is my place, my bedroom balcony, my little haven. My parents decided to give me this room because I am a dreamer and appreciate admiring nature and life in safety.

I can spend most of my free time seated on my terrace on the top floor. I keep myself busy with sketching, drawing, writing, or reading. My headsets on my head: I let the music guide my creative spirit. I can freely dream while enjoying the incredible view.

Our glade welcomes an orchard with apple, cherry, pear, and orange trees. Some of the trees there are ancient, as it is a tradition in the Evans family to plant a fruit tree for every child's birth.

Next to it, there is a lovely and beautiful garden, with vegetables and flowers sprouting everywhere. Every Pack member is allowed to come here. If my mother spends a lot of time here, kids do too. School teachers often take them, so they learn all about nature.

I used to paint a lot in both these places when I was younger.

Birds and butterflies are everywhere when times are beautiful. That's just ideal for relaxing and improving artistic skills.

At least, that's my opinion. I really am a nature lover.

Today, my entire attention is on the woods. The fresh air makes the leaves play us some music. Birds take their role as singers so passionately. It sounds like they take it seriously. Ladybugs dance like wonderful ballerinas in the play of my life. Dragonfly out in the sun, butterflies all out having fun.

I draw the landscape and try not to forget any details. This way, the scene will live eternally. I let my pencil glide on the pages of my sketchbook. My hand dances to picture the moving grass around the house, with some figures walking, playing, and resting on it. The trees seem almost alive, with different tones of green, all the shades perfectly down on the paper.

Once again, my soul seems to express itself, on its own, through artwork.

I've been drawing for hours when I breathe the sweetest smell ever, just like an avalanche of candies falling to me.

Then he appears, right with Julie, coming straight from the woods, in all his splendor and majesty. Elijah.

Elijah's wolf is large and dark. He is recognizable from afar as he is larger than any other wolf - except for my father's one, who is the current Alpha. Soon, Eli - as most of the people call him - will be the new Alpha, and he will oversize my dad's wolf.

Yet, even from this distance, I can see his piercing green eyes as he reaches the clearing. Eli's eyes are deep green on his human form, but they are much more hypnotizing when he shifts.

Julie is a small, thin, entirely white wolf with shiny blue eyes: the perfect opposite of my brother. She is as graceful in her wolf form as in her human form. She was born to be a Luna, no doubt about it. She may be short, but she is one of the fastest and, for sure, one of the smartest wolves in the Pack.

I'm pleased she is mated to Eli. The two of them will be perfect to rule our Pack.

You would have loved the run, Liv. So many fawns, you would have enjoyed the view.

Eli mind-links me.

Nice to hear you liked it.

I answer with a smile, so overjoyed to have my brother and his mate back home.

I have to admit that I missed spending days by their side. Eli and I's twin bond has not weakened even after they found each other. Nevertheless, I try to give them as much space as possible. Just like I did the last few days.

Yes, we missed you, Liv. Wish you were here.

Julie adds with her soft and serene voice...

As usual, she is so calm. I'm lucky to have her as my sister-in-law as she has always been considerate regarding Eli and I's need for each other. Wolves can be possessive, but Julie has never tried to create distance between Eli and me. I am really grateful.

I prepared some clothes for you earlier this morning. They must be warmed up by the sun. Go enjoy them.

I tell them with a smile.

Do you join us downstairs, Liv?

Eli asks with his joyful voice. I already know he has a lot to tell me about their journey. That's going to be a long, long day.

Yep, on my way, Eli.

I answer in the same cheerful tone. I may be already drowning under the incoming stories that Eli will blabber, but I know that's his way of making me feel part of the Pack.

As they arrive at the house, they hide behind a fence to shift and put on their clothes, heated by the sun while they have been on their way back home. I prepared them earlier in the morning as I knew they were about to come home after two days of running - just the two of them - before Elijah's Alpha ceremony.

When I meet them, they are kissing passionately in their human forms.

"Moon-Goddess, have some decency, you two."

I mimic a disgusted face, acting like I'm so shocked that I'm about to faint. That's poorly performed, but well... I can't be good at all sorts of art.

As soon as they see me, they part. Elijah hugs me almost too tightly.

Eli is 6'0 and muscular: a natural Alpha, in all his grandeur. His face is a perfect balance of strength and sweetness, and his incredible green eyes are pure heaven and happiness. If he were not my twin, I would undoubtedly be in love with him.

"I missed you so much, sis'. These two days were brilliant," he says before he kisses me on my cheek and forehead.

As he is letting me go, I go to Julie and hug her.

"Nice to be back," Julie says with her sweet and peaceful voice.

Julie is a 5'1 girl, and she is so thin. She looks like an angel on Earth with her pale skin and shiny light blue eyes. She could be the Moon Goddess without a doubt.

She will be a fantastic Luna with her kind temper, balancing my brother's impulsive one.

"So, what did you do during these two days?"

I ask them, curious about what they saw and did.

Yeah, I'm the one making my brother blabber in the end, but I can't help myself. I'm too curious not to question him.

Eli had closed his mind during this time, so I have no idea what they did. But, to be honest, I would have felt a little bad if he had not. They need to have their moments. And I wish we could do it more and more, just to be prepared if I have to go.

Plus, I understand that they want some privacy.

Even like that, I could sense when the two of them were truly happy. Our twin link is strong. Sometimes far too strong, as we cannot hide each other's emotions.

Regardless of how hard I've tried, my condition must not help, and Eli is... Eli. Despite my situation, he doesn't want me to feel different and put aside the Pack.

"We went to the North. That was brilliant. Young animals were everywhere, flowers were perfuming all the territories. It was so nice to travel to Julie's Pack. Or at least they were on the move close to the border so we could meet them more easily."

Eli is so enthusiastic as he is telling me about everything. Sometimes, he speaks too fast, and Julie has to put her hand on him, so he calms down and communicates more distinctly. I am fortunate this crazy boy has his mate to do it. He does not have to run to me whenever he feels like his wolf is too close to taking control. Just to clarify: I love his wolf, but he can be exhausting.

"And you know, just enjoying our wolves without any Alpha and Luna's duty... If you know...." Eli says with a slight lusty grin at Julie.

My face gets red: a perfect example of Eli's lack of sense of privacy. And Julie's reaction shows that she is as embarrassed as I am. She hits his elbow, and her cheeks turn red. Julie is still so shy despite the years she's been with us. Thankfully, she quickly changes the topics.

"You thought about all the prep for your night, Liv? I tried to get some ideas out of Eli's brain, but... you know him." She says with her gentle voice.

This girl is magic when it is about changing burning topics. Although, I have to concede that this topic is not much better for me.

I grin back at her, and she finds out as soon as she notices my diffident grin that I had not thought about organizing our birthday party.

"Well, you know. I've been a lot busy... I mean, I tried, but...." I have no fucking good reason except that I had no enthusiasm for this party. I don't like parties.

But as Eli and I are about to turn twenty, a big party is about to take place at the Packhouse. That is a tradition for werewolves, especially when you are an Alpha's child and are about to be crowned the new Alpha of your Pack. So precisely what is going to happen with Eli in a few days.

Our parents want us to take care of the prep so Eli and Julie can have an aperçu of what their lives will be soon as Alpha and Luna for the next two decades - at least.

Don't let me down, Liv. We are in this together.

Eli looks at me with begging eyes that are screaming a huge.

"Maybe we could think about it together while eating," I suggest. I can feel that they are both hungry.

This is for sure more appreciable than thinking about my birthday.